Powder loading machine



A. I. LONG POWDER LOADING MACHINE arch 17, 1942.

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec.

INVENTOR B fllert [.Zany

ATTOYfi March 17, 1942. 1, LONG 2,276,999

POWDER LOADING MACHINE Filed Dec. 19, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 j'y- I INVENTOR fllbcrt LL12 ATT RNEY arch 17, 1942. A. 1. LONG 2,276,996

POWDER LOADING MACHINE Filed Dec. 19, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Al n. ha

INVENTOR fllertllazzy Y Q ATT NEY Patented Mar. 17, 1942 POWDER LOADING MACHINE Albert E. Long, Ajo, Aria, assignor to Phelps Dodge Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December 19, 1940, Serial No. 370,743

8 ,Claims.

The invention relates to the introduction of charges of explosive into bore holes such as used in mining operations, and more particularly to apparatus for lowering such charges into the holes.

The explosive charge employed in loading bore holes may be a gelatin powder or granular powder. in twelve and one-half pound cartridges wrapped in a waterproof container such as paraffin waxed paper. The present practice of loading such The gelatin powder may come to the field cartridges into the holes is to cut each twelve and I one-half pound cartridge into four parts and drop the parts into the hole one by one. Assuming a 50 foot bench, the average depth of the holes will be about 60 feet. The step of cutting up the cartridge into small parts is resorted to in order to reduce the evident hazard which exists in dropping the powder for such a distance. The cutting up of the powder i a time-consuming operation, and has the further disadvantage of sacrificing the moisture-resistant protection afforded by the container, making it necessary to set oiT the powder sooner after loading than would be the case if the powder were still protected by the container.

Granular powder is generally packaged in twelve and one-half pound paper bags. It is less sensitive than gelatin powder and has no resistance to water. Its use is confined to dry holes, into which it is introduced by pouring from the bag. This method is dangerous because of the possibility that part of the charge will be lost in crevices or fissures beyond the reach of the detonating means employed. There is also the danger that rocks will be dislodged by the falling powder and drop into the main charge.

It will be seen that the loading of holes with either gelatin or granular powder is fraught with danger and that even with the use of picked crews of powdermen who are trained to give particular attention to details in their handling of powder, there is ever present the possibility of human failure or accident causing a major ex plosion. It is an object of my invention to provide means for minimizing the danger of explosion in powder loading operations.

More specifically. it is an object of my invention to provide apparatus which is capable of safely lowering a full sized uncut cartridge to the bottom of the hole. The apparatus which I have devised for this purpose can even be used for lowering much larger cartridges than the usual twelve and one-half pound cartridge, and in accordance with my invention, it has been found perfectly feasible to use, for example, a 50 pound cartridge. A cartridge of this size can be provided with an absolutely moisture-proof container. thereby preserving the full explosive qualities of the powder in wet holes. This will permit the use in wet holes of a less sensitive and cheaper grade of powder than could otherwise be employed. Moreover, the use of a large cartridge with its heavy concentrated charge requiring no tamping will eliminate the manual operations required to cut up a small cartridge into a number of pieces, drop them into the hole and tamp them. Accordingly, it has been an object of my invention to provide powder loading means which will eliminate these manual operations and which will greatly lessen the hazards-incident thereto.

A further object of the invention is to provide powder loading apparatus which can be readily moved from one hole to another.

A more specific object of the invention i to provide apparatus of the class described which embodies numerous safety'features which eliminate, or at least minimize, the hazards which might arise through improper manipulation of the controls--in other words, to eliminate the human equation in so far as possible.

A further object is to provide an improved lowering rig which enables the powder cartridge, when it reaches the bottom of the hole. to be loosed by fluid control means. Other objects and advantages will appear'in the description which follows, taken in conjunction .with the appended drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred form of apparatus embodying my invention, showing a powder cartridge in the process of being lowered into a hole.

Figs. 2 and 3 are detail views of the fluid operated hook which forms a part of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 2 being a central cross-sectional view thereof, and Fig. 3 being a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a rear elevational view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, but to a somewhat larger scale.

ing the pneumatic hook in the event of its severance from the hoisting cable upon overwinding.

Fig. 8 is a detail plan, view looking downon the top end of the boom.

Fig. 9 is'an enlarged detail sectional view taken as indicated at 99 in Fig. 7, and showing the means for releasably holding the hook-catching device to one side of the normal path of travel of the hook; and

Fig. 10 is a detail elevational view of the end of the bearing for the hoisting drum shaft, illustrating the position occupied by the nozzle of the air hose which is used to inject air to release the pneumatic hook from the powder cartridge.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, the apparatus which I have selected for purposes of illustration comprises, in its general arrangement, a truck or carriage m on which is mounted a hoisting drum M and a boom I2. At its outer end, the boom l2 carries a sheave 53 over which passes a hollow cable or hose is which is connected to fluid-operated coupling means consisting of a shackle or hook l5, and is arranged to be wound up on the hoisting drum H The hook I5 is designed to engage a supporting ring attached to the powder cartridge 86. I

Also mounted on the carriage W is a motorcompressor unit, indicated generally'by the reference numeral #7, providing a convenient source of compressed air for operating the hook E5 in a manner to be described. The motor-compressor unit ll may be of any usual construction, and it will be understood that, if desired, other sources of 60 feet in depth. A casing is may be inserted at the top of the hole, projecting slightly above the surface level to prevent loose earth and stones from being dislodged and falling into the hole.

A detonating fuse 2! is attached to the powder cartridge 20. form of detonating means may be employed. Such means are well known in the art, and since the construction thereof forms no part of the present invention, it will not be necessary to specifically describe this means herein.

The carriage I0 preferably is of such a light, compact construction as to permit it to be moved readily from one hole to another, either by motive power or by hand. The particular construction illustrated is designed to be towed into the field by a powder truck, and thereafter to be moved manually by members of the powder crew as they proceed fromv one hole to another.

It consists of a frame 22 having a suitable undercarriage comprising a pairof wheels 23, such as pneumatic-tired automobile wheels, At the forward corners of the frame 22 are a pair of brackets 24 in which are slidably mounted a pair of pointed rods 25 arranged to beheld in selected positions of adjustment by suitable clamping means 26. At the rear of the frame 22 a bracket 21 provides a rear support in conjunction with a slidable' rod 28 held in adjusted po-'- sition with respect to the bracket 2'! by suitable clamping means 29. The rod 28 may be located at the longitudinal center line of the carriage.

Such holes are usually about 12 inches in diameter, and may be on the order It will be understood that any The rods 25 and 28 together provide a threepoint support which prevents the carriage from tipping, andalso holds it against rolling forward or backward. The forward rods 25 preferably are inclined at an angle as'shown in Figs. 1 and 45 However, the details of the construction of the carriage are-not essential in achieving the broad objects of my invention, and it will be understood that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit thereof.

A base frame 30 for supporting the hoisting mechanism is secured to the frame 22 of the carriage. This base frame may conveniently consist of a metal casting having at one side a drum bearing support in the form of a pedestal 3i, and at the other side a support 32for a motor, or motor and gear reducer unit, 33.

The hoisting drum may conveniently be made as a metal casting having a cylindrical body portion 34 with flanges 35'and 36. The flange 36.

at the operators side of the machine is enlarged and rounded as at 31, so as to form a hand wheel by which the drum can be turned manually as the powder charge reaches the bottom of the hole, or as the hook l5 approaches the limit of its upper position upon rewinding. The

hub 38 of the drum 34 is connected'thereto by spokes 39, and the hub is fixed to a hollow shaft 40 by means of a key 4!. The shaft 40 is supported in a housing 42 which may be cast integral-with the pedestal 3|, suitable antifriction bearings such as the roller bearings 33 being provided at each end of the housing. The outer -ball races may be carried in offset portions M P ofthe housing, and the inner ball races may be spaced on the shaft 40 by the shoulder '35 and sleeve 46. A nut or threaded collar 51 and housing covers "38 and 59 complete the bearing assembly.

The shaft 40 of the drum is driven from the shaft of the motor and reduction unit 33 through a, suitable clutch, which may comprise a clutch plate 5!, and a ring 52 associated with the shaft Ml. The ring 52 may conveniently be mounted on spokes 53 projecting between the' spokes 39 of the drum and secured to a sleeve 54 keyed to the hub 38 of the drum, as at 55, in a manner which holds the sleeve 54 against rotational movement relative to the hub 38, but which permits relative sliding movement therebetween longitudinally of the shaft. The operation of the clutch 5|, 52 is controlled by a lever 56 fixed to a shaft 51 supported by the flanges 58 of the pedestal 3|. Movement of the shaft 51 is transmitted to the sleeve 54 through a toggle linkage 59, 60. The links 59 are keyed at one end to the shaft 5'! and at the other end are pivotally connected to the links 60 at 6|,

' and the links 60 are pivotally connected at 62 ing to turn the shaft 51 in a counter-clockwisedirection as viewed in Fig. 4 to disengage the clutch 5|, 52. In order to engage the clutch,.it

is necessary'for the operator to hold his hand on the lever 56. The moment that the lever 56 is released even for an instant, the spring 65 will operate to release the clutch.

.A brakedrum 61 is mounted on the drum in any convenient manner, as by means of exten- .cured. The hollow body 8'! of the hook may consions or spokes 68 connected to the body portion 34 of the drum, and also connected to the main spokes 39 of the drum by means of webs59. A brake band 10 passes over the drum 6'! and a suitable lining II may be attached to the brake band. The ends of the brake band I areconnected to a double ended link 12 (Fig. 6) fixed to a shaft I3 mounted in bearings in the pedestal 3i. A brake-operating lever I4 is fixed to the shaft 13. lever i4 is released, a tension springs I5 (Fig. 4) secured at one end to a fixed support such as the base frame 30, and at the other end to a lever 16 which may consist of a bolt or rod fixed to the shaft 13, urges the shaft I3 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 6, applying the brake. Thus will it be seen that engagement of the clutch to operate the hoisting drum, and disen gagement of the brake to permit lowering of the powder charge requires that the operator's hand remain on the clutch lever or brake handle I4, as the case may be. Therefore, if the manipulation of either of these controls should be interrupted through sudden illness of the operator,

or through carelessness, or for any other reason,

the brake will always be applied and the clutch disengaged, preventing uncontrolled lowering of the powder cartridge on the one hand, and on the other hand preventing overwinding.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, I shall now describe 1 the pneumatic connections for releasing the fluidoperated coupling means, or air book. The shaft 40 is provided with plugs TI at its ends. A nipple I8 is threaded into the plug atthe outer end, and an elbow fitting I9 is threaded into the plug at the inner end. A tube extends later ally from the fitting I9 to a point adjacent the body portion 34 of the drum for attachment to the end' of the. cable I4. From its point of attachment to the tube' 80, the cable I4 passes through an aperture 8| in the cylindrical body portion 34 of the drum (see Figs. 4 and 6), at which point it begins to wrap around the drum. When it is desired to operate the pneumatic hook I5, compressed air is injected into the cable through the shaft 40 by any suitable means. For this purpose, I have provided a motor-compressor unit I1. A hose 82 (Fig. 1) leads from the compressed air reservoir of this unit. A valve may. be provided at 83 where the flexible hose 82 joins the pipe which connects to the reservoir. At the outer end of the hose 82 is an air nozzle 84 having a valve controlled by a lever 85. In operation, the tapered end 86 of the air nozzle 84 is inserted into the nipple I8 (Fig. l0) and the lever compressed, allowing the compressed air to flow through the shaft 40 and cable I4 into the pneumatic hook I5. It will be understood that the air nozzle 84 may be of any construction well known in-the art. The hollow shaft 40 and connection 80 provide means for introducing air (or other fluid) into the hollow cable I4 under pressure to operate the hook I5.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 3, I shall describe the preferred construction of my fluid-controlled hook I5, which, in conjunction with the fluid connections above described, constitutes one of the important features of my invention. This hook may be designed for operation by hydraulic or pneumatic means. but will be described more particularly with reference to pneumatic operation. It comprises a hollow body or pressure chamber 81 having the general form of'a clevis or inverted U, so as to provide a slot 88 to receive a ring 89 to which the powder cartridge is se- Whenever the handle of the brake.

' vision of a retractable locking element or bolt 90 operable by the fluid pressure means which has been described. In my preferred construction, two of these bolts 90 are employed so that, in the event of failure of one of them through breakage or sticking, the other one will sustain the load. Each locking bolt 90 is connected to or forms a part of a piston 9| arranged in a cylinder 92. In the construction illustrated, each cylinder 92 is formed separately from the body casting 81, being threaded into apertures 93 in the outer walls of the body and into a recess 94 formed in the lug or boss 95 projecting from the wall which forms the side of the slot 88. A passage 96 is cut in the cylinder 92, permitting air to flow from the interior of the body casting 81 to the space 97 at the end of the piston. A compression spring 98 is arranged to urge the piston 9| inwardly to bring the bolt 90 acrossthe slot 88 where its end seats in arecess 99 in the opposite wall of the slot. An aperture I00 in the end of the cylinder 92 permits air to flow in and out of the space IOI so that reciprocatory movement of the piston can be freely controlled by the spring 98 and the pressure of the air within the body of the hook. The cable I4 is connected to the upper end of the hook I5, the body member 81 being provided with an aperture I02 into the upper threaded portion of which is secured the hose fitting I03. A set screw I04 holds the hook against unscrewing from-the nipple.

I shall now describe another safety feature of my invention which resides in the provision of means for preventing the hook I5 from falling into the hole I8 on top of the charge in the event it should be pulled off the end of the cable I4 upon overwinding. This means consistsin its general arrangement of a device pivotally mounted at or near the end of the boom I2, and which is designed to swing into the path ofmovement of the hook I5 as the latter approaches the sheave I3, so as to provide a receptacle for the hook or a shield for deflecting it to one side of the hole. In the preferred form illustrated in Figs. 7' and 8, this device is mounted on the sheave guard I05. The device consists of a receptacle I06 having supporting arms I01 pivotally attached to the sides of the sheave guard I05, as by means of bolts I08. Projecting laterally from the supporting arms IOI are a pair of brackets I09, the ends of which are reinforced and supported by struts III) secured near the base of each arm IEII. If desred, the ends of the brackets '09 may be secured to ether by a bolt I II passing through a spacer H2. The box I06 is normally held releesably in the position shown in full lines in Fig. '1, 'and in dot-dash lines in Fig. 7. Means for releasablv holding the box in this position are shown in Fig. 9, and

may consist of spring catch s H3 secured to the rearward bottom corners of the box I05. These catches comprise rounded pins I I4 adapted to engage flanges I I5 of a casting II6 which forms the end of the boom I2, and which also provides bearings for the sheave wheel 3. The rounded pins II4 have a collar II! which retains them within the body of the catch H3. A compression spring 8 normally holds the pin in the position shown The principle of charged with five hundred pounds of powder.

in Fig. 9 but permits it to be cammed to one side upon the application of substantial lifting pressure to the brackets I89. Thus, if the hook i is overwound with the application of sufficient pull on the cable M to sever the cable or to pull the hook from the end of the cable, the catches H3 will be sprung and the box it will then swing into the position shown in full lines in Fig. 7, so that the hook will drop into the box, as shown in that view. With this arrangement, the hook cannot fall back into the hole and accidentally set off the charge. y

A reel H9 is mounted on brackets I20 secured to the boom l2, providing convenient means for carrying the prima or detonating cord 2| previously mentioned.

One of the principal advantages of the apparatus I have described herein resides in the fact that the fluid-controlled hook cannot be operated accidentally, as might be the case with ordinary mechanical releasing means. In order to detach the hook from the powder cartridge, it is necessary for the operator .to pick up the air nozzle 84 and place it in the nipple 18, or in the opening in the end of the shaft of the hoisting drum. This, of course, is a manipulation which could scarcely clutch in time, the hook IE will be brought against the brackets we to trip the box Wt into the position shown in full lines in Fig. '3, thus preclud-= ing the possibility of the hook falling into th hole if it is pulled ofi the cable.

In addition to the advantages which have been stated above, and which have appeared from the foregoing description, it will be observed that, since my apparatus enables handling the cartridges without opening them and cutting the powder into small pieces, the detonating properties of the powder are preserved against the deteriorating effects of moisture.

The terms and expressions which I have employed are used in a descriptive and not a limiting sense, and I have no intention of excluding such equivalents of the invention described, or of portions thereof, as fall within the purview o the claims. I

I claim:

1. Apparatus for loading explosives into drill holes'and'the like which comprises a carriage having a boom arranged to be supported with its end over a drill hole, a hoisting drum mounted on said carriage and means for operating said drum a hollow cable arranged to be wound on be performed by accident. In addition, the lever 85 must be compressed while the nozzle 84 is held in place against the nipple 18. Unless and until these two steps are performed, it is absolutely impossible to detach the powder cartridge from the hook.

It is believed that the operation of my apparatus will be apparent from my foregoing description, but the method of operation may be briefly summarized at this point. Let us assume that the apparatus has been brought into position with the boom arranged over a hole which is to be ill fifty pound cartridges are unloaded on location. The operator grasps the hook H5 and inserts the end of the nozzle 84 into the nipple 18 in the end of the hoisting drum, depressing the lever 85. Compressed air flows through the cable l4 into the pressure chamber of the hook l5, and through the passages 96 into the spaces 91 at the ends of the pistons 9|, forcing the pistons back against the compressionof the springs 98 to withdraw the locking bolts 97 from the slot 88. The ring 89 attached to one of the cartridges is now placed in the slot 88 and the nozzle 84 withdrawn,

permitting the pressure within the hook to be released. The compression springs 98 now push the locking bolts 90 across the slot into the position shown in Fig. 2, locking the ring 89 to the hook. The cartridge is now'suspended over the hole, and the brake lever 14 is pushed to the left as viewed in Fig. 1) to release the brake. This permits the cartridge Hi to descend into the hole I8 at a controlled speed. As the cartridge nears the bottom of the hole, as shown in Fig. 1, the

its released position, and engages the clutch to 7 said piston, said locking element projecting through an aperture in said chamber for movement into and out of a position in which it is arranged to pass through a load-supporting ring, said piston being arranged to move said locking element into'non-supporting position upon the transmission of fluid pressure into' said chamber.

.3. In apparatus for loading explosives into drill holes and the like, a fluid operated coupler comprising a hollow chamber in the general form of an inverted U, a reciprocable locking element arranged to be projected across the legs of the U to support a load of explosives, and means for withdrawing said locking element from its position across the legs of the U upon the Eransmission of fluid pressure into said cham- 4. Apparatus for loading explosives into drill holes and the like which comprises a hoisting drum mounted on a hollow shaft, a hollow cable arranged to be wound on said drum and to be connected to said hollow shaft, coupling means holes and the like which comprises a carriage having a boom arranged to be supported with v its end over a drill hole, a hoisting drum mounted on said carriage and means for operating said drum, a hollow cable arranged to be woundon said drum, a couplersecured to said hollow cable for supporting a load of explosives, said coupler being responsive to fluid pressure transmitted through said hollow cable to release the charge of explosives after the cable has been unwound from said drum to lower said charge, and means associated with said boom movable into the path of movement of the coupler in response to rewinding of the cable on said drum when said coupler reaches a predetermined position.

6. Apparatus for loading explosives into drill holes and the like which comprises a carriage having a hoisting drum mounted thereon, power means for operating said drum, a hollow cable arranged to be wound on said drum, fluid operated coupling means secured to said hollow cable for supporting a load of explosives, a clutch between said power means and drum. means for disengaging said clutch whenever the clutch control is released by the operator, a. brake for controlling unwinding of the cable from the drum as the load is lowered into a hole, means for applying said brake whenever the brake control is released by the operator, and means for increasing the fluid pressure within said cable to operate said coupling means for releasing the load of explosives.

7. In apparatus of the class described, a hollow cable, fluid operated coupling means secured to said hollow cable for releasably engaging a load, and means for changing the fluid pressure within said hollow cable to operate said coupling means for releasing the load, said pressurechanging means including a fluid conduit having two separable portions arranged for connection solely by manual engagement whereby accidental releasing of the load is prevented.

8. In combination with a hoisting'drum mounted on a hollow shaft, a hollow cable, arranged to be wound on said drum and to be connected to said hollow shaft, coupling means secured to said hollow cable for supporting a load, and a fluid conduit. arranged to be held manually in communicating relationship with said hollow shaft and to separate automatically from saidhollow shaft when not so held, said fluid conduit being arranged for connection toasource of fluid pres- 20 sure.

ALBERT I. LONG. 

